The Duck’s Top Three Overlooked Games

One would think that the best games would also be the most well-known, which is often the case, but there are times that I decide to give some obscure game a chance and am baffled at how such an amazing game could have been forgotten so. I have several such games that are quite dear to me, and I have decided that the only way to give them the recognition they deserve is to share them with all of you. And so I will, in no particular order, as they are all awesome.

“The Illusion of Gaia” is a game for the SNES, and while I will soon be telling you just how empty your life is without it, it’s also the most difficult game on my list to find. Unless you have a working SNES, you’ll be at a loss, as this game, as far as I know, cannot be downloaded on the Wii or Wii U like other SNES games. And frankly, I think this is a crime.

Made by Enix, one of the companies that later merged to form Square Enix, I have played this game innumerable times, but it still hasn’t gotten boring. Because it’s that good. In this game, the main character, Will, along with some friends, travels around the world with the goal of reaching the Tower of Babel. (I forgot why.) To be honest, I don’t entirely remember the plot aside from it having something to do with a comet. What I do know is that the game involves traveling through many interesting locations, a good number of which come from the real world, such as the more well-known, like the pyramids and the Great Wall of China, or less famous locations such as the Nazca lines and Mu (it’s kind of like Easter Island). These locations are made even better with a truly amazing soundtrack, especially for the humble SNES.

This game can kind of be considered an RPG, in a minor sense, as the battles are not turn-based, but you do level up whenever you defeat all the enemies in a particular room. The gameplay is simple, but fun, and sometimes Will is able to turn into Freedan the knight, who is filled with coolness, or Shadow, this…liquid-like person that can occasionally soak through floors and reach otherwise inaccessible places, which is also pretty awesome.

In the end, I really adore this game. Your characters face many hardships, including being wrongly imprisoned and lost on a raft at sea, and I must admit that I really became emotionally invested in this game, as there is far more going on than simple traveling. And as I mentioned before, I just loved exploring “real” locations and listening to the game’s truly beautiful soundtrack. My main issue is the game can be rather depressing at times (such as what happens to Hamlet the pig…), but other than that, it’s really an amazing experience and worth playing if you can ever make that happen.

Video from Youtube User: SNESguide.com

“Vexx” doesn’t have much of a story. It really doesn’t have much in the way of characters, either. And yet, it remains as one of my favorite platformers of all time. The game can be played on the GameCube, PS2, or Xbox (so many choices), and it involves our hero Vexx collecting rather gruesome wraith hearts (wait until you feel them beating in the rumble pack) as he travels about a world that’s literally been torn asunder by the evil wraith Yabu. This game has some truly unique and beautiful locations, not to mention a stunning soundtrack, as well.

What I love about this game is, while it lacks in a plot and characters, it more than makes up for it by being tons of fun to play. Vexx’s war talons are pretty cool, and I loved that each wraith heart had a riddle associated with it. Solving the riddle would give you an idea of where the heart was or how to obtain it, but actually getting it was another matter entirely because this game is quite a challenge. I mean it, this game could be pretty darn hard at times, but it’s not impossible, and it’s not (usually) unfair like other platformers can be. (Such as “Mario” games, thanks to Mario’s absurd slippery shoes.) It was refreshing to play a game that was so different and, unlike most games nowadays, so challenging, as well. If you like platformers, I would seriously suggest checking this game out. You can’t not love it.

Video from Youtube User: John GodGames

“Okami” is one of the most beautiful games…in the universe. This game is the easiest to get on my list and is available on both the PS2 and the Wii. The game takes place in Japan and incorporates a lot of Japanese mythology, including a main character named after the Japanese goddess Amaterasu. Amaterasu, or Ammy for short, is a white wolf that wields a Celestial Brush that can make what she draws real. This game has an interesting story, a beautiful art style, along with, once again, a beautiful soundtrack, if not one of the most beautiful soundtracks I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. But, as if that wasn’t enough, it’s the unique gameplay I love most.

And so I bring this post back to the topic of Ammy’s brush, which you’ll have to rely on throughout the game for a variety of uses. For example, you can draw a straight line with a pointed end to cut something, or you can draw a circle in the sky to change the time to day, or a crescent to change it back to night. A swirl can create wind and so on and so forth. I prefer the game on the Wii because the Wiimote is perfect for such a concept, while others prefer the PS2, as its controller is apparently less finicky, but however you play, I had a blast with this game because the drawing concept was just so interesting. I have since heard of other games that use a similar idea, and while I have yet to play them, I, frankly, don’t see how any could compete with the ingenuity and the beauty of this game. The game really makes you think, and the Celestial Brush provides a gameplay experience like no other. No other, darn it!

Video from Youtube User: OkamiTube

I came so close to missing these three games, and I’m so glad I didn’t or else my gaming library would just not have been the same. I don’t know how these games got forgotten, and it’s really a shame, too, when they are so amazing and so unique. It seems overlooked games tend to be some of the most interesting games out there, and it just goes to show that taking chances and trying new things can really pay off sometimes. So if you ever get the chance, please check them out. You won’t be disappointed.

The Duck That Provided a Very Valuable Service Sharing These Games With You

11 Comments

It really is one of the most amazing games I’ve ever played. And on the PS2, maybe they won’t be as picky about being so darn exact with the drawing. That was the one frustrating thing about the game, when my circles were apparently not circular enough.

I’ve played Okami and Illusion of Gaia but I didn’t get very far through the latter at all. I really enjoyed SoulBlazer though which is also by Quintet so I should probably give Gaia another go.

As for Vexx, I don’t think I’ve ever read or heard a single word about this game since a preview I saw before it came out. Wowza. I remember I liked the concept of Vexx with those claws. Did it actually come out on Gamecube? That’s cool if so, I will have to watch out for it.

I heard of Soul Blazer, and I have considered buying it because they made Illusion of Gaia. I have yet to get around to it, though. I’ve neglected to buy lots of game I wanted to check out. Yeah, Vexx was on the Gamecube, Xbox, and PS2. I would definitely recommend checking it out. It was so much fun, and those claws were pretty cool. Vexx is one tough, little dude.

That game is seriously fantastic. I must play again someday, too. The brush certainly could be her tail. How else can a wolf paint? She has no thumbs! Definitely one of the most unique games ever made.

I recently picked up an emulation of the Illusion of Gaia, and boy oh boy, is it a pretty game! I’m not very far along with it, but I’m already liking the story and the characters. Do you recall, is it a long game? (Like 60+ hours long?)